Korean Studies Information Service System Research Articles

Population attributable fractions of modifiable cancer risk factors in Korea: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionThe burden of cancer continues to increase worldwide, and cancer is the leading cause of life expectancy reduction and death in Korea. Population attributable fraction (PAF), an epidemiological measure of...

The efficacy of acupuncture on suicidal behavior: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

One of the leading causes of death worldwide is suicide. Acupuncture has been reported to be related to clinical improvement of some risk factors for suicide including depression. Moreover, practitioner-patient communication is an important component of the acupuncture procedure, which may contribute to suicide risk reduction as a social contact. This systematic review was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for suicidal behavior. A comprehensive search will be conducted in electronic medical databases including MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, PsycARTICLES, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals, Citation Information by NII, Koreanstudies Information Service System, Korea Citation Index, Research Information Sharing Service, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and Korean Medical database. Interventional studies regardless of its design to assess the role of acupuncture on suicide prevention will be included. The validated measure of suicidal ideation including Beck scale for suicidal ideation will be considered as a primary outcome. The validated tools will be used to assess methodological quality of included studies according to its design (e.g., Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool-2). If sufficient homogeneous data from controlled clinical trials exist, a quantitative synthesis will be performed. According to the heterogeneity of included studies, either a random-effects or fixed-effects model will be used. The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis will help to address the emerging major public health problem, suicide, in terms of evidence-based medicine.

Eating Difficulties among Older Adults with Dementia in South Korean Long-Term Care Facilities: A Scoping Review

This study aims to synthesize existing literature concerning eating difficulties among older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. A scoping review, using the framework proposed by Arksey & O'Malley (2005) and improved and supplemented by Levac et al. (2010), was conducted. Literature was searched from five bibliographic databases—Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korean studies Information Service System (KISS), National Digital Science Library (NDSJ), Korean Medical Database (KMBASE), DataBase Periodical Information Academic(DBPia), Google Scholar, and gray literature. Literature selection and characteristics were approved by two independent reviewers, using pre-tested forms to determine final inclusion. Eventually, 111 articles from 2012–2020 were identified, and the 11 articles were used for the final analysis. We found that primarily utilized Eating behavior scale (EBS) and Edinburgh feeding evaluation in dementia scale (EdFED) had utilized as measurement tools for evaluating eating behavior. The most common factors related to eating behavior of older adults with dementia included cognitive and physical functions in the individual domain, the caregiver's attitude toward eating in the inter-individual domain, and types of meal in the environmental domain. Therefore, it is essential to develop measurement tools that reflect the eating behavior of older adults with dementia, a comprehensive understanding of the eating behavior of old adults with dementia, and create effective interventions that can be implemented in the specificity of long-term care facilities in Korea. The results of this analysis are intended to be used as basis to develop a meal support programs for older adults with dementia.

Efficacy of acupuncture for whiplash injury: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Studies in both Eastern & Western countries such as the United States and Europe have evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture for whiplash injury or whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). However, no systematic reviews on the effectiveness of acupuncture on WAD have been conducted since 2014. Therefore, we are planning an updated systematic review of studies published since 2014 to overcome the limitations of existing evidence.Methods:Literature will be identified from searches of relevant databases, including international databases such as PubMed, Ovid-Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Korean databases such as Korea Med, Korean Studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and National Digital Science Library. Only randomized controlled trials using acupuncture or electro-acupuncture for whiplash injury will be included. The primary outcomes will be the visual analog scale or numerical rating scale of the neck pain, while the secondary outcome is the range of motion of the neck. The risk of bias for individual papers will be assessed by two independent investigators using the Cochrane “Risk of Bias” assessment tool.Dissemination:We plan to report the results of the study in a peer-reviewed journal after completing the research. In addition, we expect this study to provide invaluable information to clinicians treating patients with WAD with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture.Trial registration number:PROSPERO 2021: CRD42021261595. Registered on 18 July 2021. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=261595

Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of forest therapy on depression and anxiety using data obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. We searched SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE(EBSCO), Web of science, Embase, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, and DBpia to identify relevant studies published from January 1990 to December 2020 and identified 20 relevant studies for the synthesis. The methodological quality of eligible primary studies was assessed by ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I. Most primary studies were conducted in the Republic of Korea except for one study in Poland. Overall, forest therapy significantly improved depression (Hedges’s g = 1.133; 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.491 to −0.775) and anxiety (Hedges’s g = 1.715; 95% CI: −2.519 to −0.912). The quality assessment resulted in five RCTs that raised potential concerns in three and high risk in two. Fifteen quasi-experimental studies raised high for nine quasi-experimental studies and moderate for six studies. In conclusion, forest therapy is preventive management and non-pharmacologic treatment to improve depression and anxiety. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor and required more comprehensive geographic application. Future research needs to determine optimal forest characteristics and systematic activities that can maximize the improvement of depression and anxiety.

아동간호를 주제로 한 시뮬레이션실습: 주제범위 문헌고찰

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze simulation practice studies centered on pediatric nursing for nursing students using a scoping review. Methods: This scoping review was performed in five stages: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select proper studies, (4) chart the data, (5) collate, analyze, and report the results. Literature search from 2016 to 2021 was performed at the Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) of the Korean studies Information Service System (KISS) and at the National Assembly Library. Results: A total of 14 studies were selected. Most of the simulation practice studies were conducted using a simulator, standard patient (SP), or virtual simulation (vSIM), and the topics were mainly gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, and care of high-risk neonates. Most of the studies aimed to identify the effects of simulation practice on clinical performance ability, problem solving ability, critical thinking disposition, and self-efficacy. However, many studies have shown conflicting results. Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence for the need to develop various content scenarios to increase the effectiveness of simulation practice education. Also, there is need for an objective outcome variable that can demonstrate the educational effect of simulation practice and to conduct ample research.

East Asian herbal medicine for cancer pain: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis with using association rule analysis to identify core herb pattern.

Cancer pain is an important factor in cancer management that affects a patient's quality of life and survival-related outcomes. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral administration East Asian herbal medicine (EAHM) for primary cancer pain, and to explore core herb patterns based on collected data. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in 10 electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korea Citation Index, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), CiNii for randomized controlled trials from their inception until August 19, 2021. Statistical analysis will be performed in the software R version 4.1.1. and R studio program using the default settings of the 'meta' package. When heterogeneity in studies is detected, the cause will be identified through meta regression and subgroup analysis. Methodological quality will be assessed independently using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials (Rob 2.0). This study will provide more comprehensive and specific evidence of EAHM for cancer pain management. Based on the results of this review, it is expected that the efficacy and safety of East Asian herbal medicine for cancer pain may be confirmed. In addition, it will be possible to derivation of a core herb pattern related to this research topic through additional association rule mining analysis.

Integrative traditional Chinese medicine for lumbar disc herniation after surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Patients with lumbar disc herniation, who undergo spine surgery, occasionally complain of pain and functional disability. Fortunately, the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery has emerged recently. As a result, patients seek traditional Chinese medicine after spine surgery. This systematic review will thoroughly analyze and synthesize evidence on integrative traditional Chinese medicine therapy for lumbar disc herniation after surgery.Methods:The following databases will be utilized to search for pertinent studies: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Japan Medical s Society, and 7 Korean databases (the Korean Studies Information Service System, Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors, National Digital Science Library, Database Periodical Information Academic Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and Korean National Assembly Digital Library). The risk of bias of the selected studies will be assessed according to the Cochrane assessment tool for risk of bias. For articles that used the same measurements, a meta-analysis will be conducted to synthesize the results of each trial. Pain severity will be the primary outcome, while the results of functional questionnaires and range of motion, etc, will be the secondary outcomes.Results and conclusion:Since this protocol does not include any data from patients, ethics approval is not required. The results of this review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal.Registration number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/KP47A (https://osf.io/kp47a)

Literature Review on Korean Medicine Treatment for Alopecia.

This study aimed to analyze the use of Korean medicine treatments for alopecia in among clinical studies. We identified and analyzed 22 studies from Korean databases; Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Science ON, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and international database; PubMed. We analyzed the Korean medical treatment in each case and determined the tendency to use each intervention. We analyzed 1,464 patients from 22 selected studies. Herbal medicine, acupuncture, external medicine or products, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy were used for alopecia treatment. The herbal medicines mainly used to treat alopecia were Gagam Cheongyoung-tang, Gagam Hwajung-hwan, and Yukmijihwang-tang·hwan. The acupoints primarily used were GV20, EX-HN1, GB5, KI3, PC6, ST36, GV22, and A-shi. The most commonly used pharmacopuncture therapies were Hwangryunhaedoktang (HH), Carthami Fructus (CF), Bee Venom (BV), and Hominis placenta (HP). The Korean medical treatment for alopecia improved the condition of patients. However, seven studies reported the occurrence of side effects such as pruritus, dazed, drowsiness, headache, pain, and diarrhea. This study shows the potential of Korean medicine for the treatment of alopecia. Further studies with a large sample size and long-term follow-up are warranted to establish the primary treatment guidelines and objective outcome measures for alopecia.

Physical Characteristics and Physical Fitness Profiles of Korean Taekwondo Athletes: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to present a standard and normal distribution of Taekwondo athletes’ physical characteristics and physical fitness profiles using a systematic review. A systematic search was conducted using four Korean databases (Research Information Sharing Service, National Digital Science Library, DBpia, and Korean Studies Information Service System). From 2010 to 2020, we reviewed 838 papers on Taekwondo athletes’ physical characteristics and physical fitness factors (e.g., body composition, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, power, agility, balance, speed, and reaction time). Of them, 24 papers were selected and analyzed. The criteria for selecting the physical characteristics and physical fitness factors for data extraction were set to have a total sample size of more than 30 individuals and included two or more studies. The sample size and average and standard deviation of physical characteristics and physical fitness factors were extracted from each selected study. In this study, the estimation error of all variables, except for the eyes-closed single-leg stance (15.71%), was less than 8%. Therefore, it was confirmed that there was no problem with the validity of the estimated values. These results could be used as an essential objective basis for evaluating the physical characteristics and physical fitness profiles of Taekwondo athletes in most countries worldwide and setting training goals.

Electroacupuncture for post-thoracotomy pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThoracotomy is an invasive surgical procedure that produces intense postoperative pain. Electroacupuncture has been used to induce analgesia in various situations, including after surgery. The aim of the following systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on post-thoracotomy pain.MethodsThe studies for the systematic review were searched using the following 9 databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE Complete, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Medical Database (KMBASE), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), and OASIS, without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and RevMan 5.3 was used for meta-analysis. The review protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) as CRD42019142157.ResultsEleven randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis was performed for two outcome measures: pain score 24 hours after surgery and total dose of opioid analgesics. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the control group: sham acupuncture and conventional analgesia group. Pain score 24 hours after surgery of electroacupuncture group showed a standard mean difference of -0.98 (95% CI: -1.62 to -0.35) compared to sham acupuncture. The standard mean difference was -0.94 (95% CI: -1.33 to -0.55) compared to conventional analgesia. The total dose of opioid analgesics of electroacupuncture group showed a standard mean difference values of -0.95 (95% CI: -1.42 to -0.47) compared to sham acupuncture. The standard mean difference was -1.96 (95% CI: -2.82 to -1.10) compared to conventional analgesia.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that electroacupuncture might provide useful pain relieving effect on post-thoracotomy patients. However, due to low quality and high heterogeneity of existing data, further rigorously designed studies should be performed to confirm the safety and efficacy.

Thread Embedded Acupuncture for Non-Specific Posterior Neck Pain: A PRISMA-Compliant Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PurposeThe prevalence of non-specific posterior neck pain (NPNP) has been increasing yearly. There are several treatments for NPNP, but in this review, we will focus on thread-embedded acupuncture (TEA). TEA is used in the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and China for managing musculoskeletal diseases, obesity, and sequelae of facial palsy. However, there is insufficient evidence on its effectiveness and safety. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of TEA for NPNP.MethodsWe will search the following nine electronic databases, from their inception to May 2020: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Citation Information by the National Information infrastructure, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and Research Information Service System. Only randomized controlled trials of TEA for NPNP will be included. The methodological quality of the included trials will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of bias tool. To conduct the meta-analysis, the risk ratio and mean difference with the 95% confidence interval will be used. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted based on this protocol.ResultsThe results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.ConclusionThe results of this study would provide the evidence of whether TEA can be effective for treating NPNP.Registration NumberPROSPERO CRD42020188346.

여가제약협상과 참여의도의 관계 : 메타분석 연구

The purpose of this study was to identify relationship between leisure constraint negotiation and participation intention through meta-analysis. To achieve research objective, research material were collected by utilizing Research Information Sharing Service, DBpia, Koreanstudies Information Service System, Korea Citation Index. Finally, 12 pieces of research materials were selected. To analyze the data, CMA(Comprehensive Meta-Analysis) software program was used. The main findings are as follows: First, the overall average effect size between leisure constraint negotiation and participation intention was .459. Second, average effect size between sub-factors of leisure constraint negotiations and participation intention, improving finance and time management was observed to be higher than the others. Third, average effect size between leisure constraint negotiation and participation intention in types of leisure activities, sports participation activities were observed to be higher than the others. Finally, the limitation of this study and future research orientation were discussed.

Acupuncture treatment for emotional problems in infertile women: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Infertility causes emotional and psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, low self-efficacy, and chronic mental stress in women. These emotional problems can negatively affect fertility treatment. Numerous studies have reported the clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture on emotional problems; however, the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for emotional problems in infertile women remain unclear. This protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating emotional problems in infertile women.Methods:We will search the following databases from their inception to April 30, 2021: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Korean Medical Databases (KoreaMed, Korean studies Information Service System, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Digital Science Library), and Chinese databases (CNKI and Wan Fang Database). We will include randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for emotional problems in infertile women. There will be no restrictions regarding language or publication date. The primary outcome will be assessed using an emotion-related assessment scale. The risk of bias of the included studies will be measured using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. For meta-analysis, RevMan Version 5.4 software will be used to combine the relative risks for dichotomous outcomes, as well as the mean differences or standardized mean differences for continuous outcomes, with both having 95% confidence intervals.Results:Based on current evidence, this study will assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for emotional problems in infertile women.Conclusion:This study will provide evidence for evaluating the acupuncture efficacy for infertile women with emotional problems.Registration number:INPLASY202150082.

Efficacy and safety of Buyang Huanwu-Tang (Boyang Hwano-Tang) in patients with vascular dementia: A protocol of systematic review and meta analysis.

Background:Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common type of dementia; it has a significant impact on patients and exerts a great social and economic burden. However, there has been no comprehensive systematic review assessing the efficacy and safety of Buyang Huanwu-Tang (Boyang Hwano-Tang, BHT) for VaD. Therefore, this protocol was developed to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of BHT in the treatment of VaD.Methods:We will perform a comprehensive electronic search including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycARTICLES, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, Korean Medical Database, KMbase, National Digital Science Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, VIP database, Citation Information by NII, and other sources from their inception to November 25, 2020. This systematic review will include only randomized controlled clinical trials of BHT for VaD. The main outcomes will include the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. Two researchers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, and appraise the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. A meta-analysis will be conducted using Review Manager version 5.4. The evidence quality of each outcome will be appraised according to the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.Results:This study will provide comprehensive understanding of the efficacy and safety of BHT for the treatment of VaD.Conclusions:The findings of this study will provide reliable evidence for clinical application and further study of BHT for VaD.Ethics and dissemination:Ethical approval is not required because individual patient data will not be included in this study. The study findings will be disseminated through conference presentations.OSF registration DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/NDYGP

Efficacy of traditional herbal medicine for psychological sequelae in COVID-19 survivors: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction:This study is the protocol for a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine on COVID-19 survivors with psychological sequelae. Currently, there are many COVID-19 survivors with psychological sequelae as COVID-19 has widely spread all over the world. However, there is no critically appraised evidence of the benefit of herbal medicine for COVID-19 survivors with psychological sequelae.Materials and Methods:We will search 11 electronic databases from inception to December, 2022: 4 English databases, MEDLINE, PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); 3 Chinese databases, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Scientific Journal database, and the Wan Fang database; and 4 Korean databases, the Oriental Medical Advanced Searching Integrated System, the Korean Studies Information Service System, the National Digital Science Links, and the Research Information Sharing Service. We will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and quasi-RCTs for all formations of TRADITIONAL herbal medicine versus conventional drug, placebo, and no treatment for COVID-19 survivors. We will only include the COVID-19 survivors with psychiatric symptoms lasting at least 1 month, regardless of their race, sex, and age.Discussion and conclusions:This systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings will provide evidence and treatment directions for clinicians. This protocol does not need ethical approval because it will be based on published research.Prospero registration number:PROSPERO CRD42020210592

Nonpharmacological treatments for Tourette syndrome and tic disorders: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background:A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic motor movement, or vocalization. Tic disorders are diagnosed based on the presence of motor or vocal tics, duration of tic symptoms, and age at onset. Current clinical practice guidelines strongly recommend behavioral therapies because they are more effective and safer than medications. To determine the most effective nonpharmacological intervention for tic disorders and Tourette syndrome, we will conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Methods:We will search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycARTICLES, AMED, 3 Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, and Wanfang Data), 3 Korean databases (Korean Medical Database, Korean studies Information Service System, and ScienceON), and a Japanese database (CiNii). There will be no language or date restrictions. The primary outcome will be the tic severity scale, the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. The secondary outcomes will include the effective rate defined by the trial authors, dropout rate, and adverse events. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Results:Results of this review and network meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusions:This systematic review will assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for treating tic disorders. A systematic review or meta-analysis will provide an unbiased overview of the existing evidence.

Traditional Korean Medicine as Collaborating Treatments with Conventional Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joint cartilage with no definite treatment in the early stage. Several previous review studies have shown that alternative medical treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicines, are effective in improving the symptoms of the disease and the patient’s quality of life. However, no systematic review study has shown the effectiveness of the combination of conventional and alternative therapies. Therefore, the aim of our study is to determine the most effective combination therapies and to provide evidence for the effectiveness and safety of integrated therapies. This article describes the protocol for the methods that will be applied in our systematic review.MethodsWe will conduct an electronic search of nine databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Google Scholar (first 100 articles), four Korean databases (KoreaMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System), and one Chinese database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure). Only randomized controlled studies that reported on both conventional treatment (drugs and hyaluronic acid) and traditional Korean medicine (acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicines) will be selected. The primary outcomes will be pain and function of the joint. The secondary outcomes will include pain relief duration, total effective rate, incidence of adverse events, and quality of life. We will assess the methodological quality of the included studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. For the meta-analysis, standardized mean differences and risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals will be applied for continuous and dichotomous data, respectively.ResultsThis review will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of several Korean medicine treatments combined with conventional treatments for knee OA.ConclusionOur review will provide a good foundation for the integrative treatment of knee OA.

External application of herbal medicine for gout: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background:Gout affects a significant portion of the population worldwide annually. Numerous studies have been reported mainly in East Asia, explaining the use of traditional herbal decoctions for gout treatment. Our systematic review will be conducted to critically evaluate the evidence for the safety and effectiveness of external applications of herbal medicines on gout.Methods:Two independent researchers will perform electronic literature searches, study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. To identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving various external applications of herbal medicine for gout, a search will be carried out using the following 7 electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, KoreaMed, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Each electronic database will be searched for articles published from their inception to the present date. Studies will be selected based on predefined criteria and summarized data regarding study participants, interventions, control groups, outcome measures, side effects, and risk of bias. There are no restrictions on publication status or language. Studies that evaluated any type of external application of herbal medicines will be eligible for inclusion, and the primary outcome will be the blood uric acid level. The methodological quality of the included RCTs will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.Results:The present study will evaluate effectiveness and safety of external application of herbal medicines for gout.Conclusion:Our findings will establish evidence for the external application of herbal medicines for gout and will be informative for patients with gout, clinicians, policymakers, and researchers.The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated electronically and in print. This review will be updated to inform and guide healthcare practices.

The effectiveness of different acupuncture therapies for neck pain: A protocol for systematic review and/or network meta-analysis.

Background:Neck pain is common musculoskeletal disorders in adult population. Acupuncture treatment has been widely used for treating neck pain. Nevertheless, previous systematic reviews (SRs) on acupuncture for neck pain remain controversial, and there is no SR for the comparative efficacy and safety of various types of acupuncture. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and rank the effectiveness and safety of different types of acupuncture for neck pain by SR and network meta-analysis.Methods:Nine databases will be searched, including Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), KoreaMed, Korean medical database (KMBASE), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceON, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) from their inception to July 2021. The primary outcome is the change of pain intensity. A frequentist network meta-analysis will be performed to compare all relative outcomes of different acupuncture methods, using R software. The quality of included randomized controlled trials will be assessed by Cochrane Collaboration “risk of bias” tools and the evidence will be evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation instrument.Results:The final findings of this network meta-analysis will be published in a recognized journal.Conclusions:Our study will evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various types of acupuncture for neck pain and provide clinicians with best option for what types of acupuncture treatments are effective.Trial registration number:INPLASY202120041